NBA player Jared Jeffries has decided to retire and is taking a front office job with the Nuggets. / Kathy Kmonicek, AP

by Jonathan Lintner, USA TODAY Sports

by Jonathan Lintner, USA TODAY Sports

Jared Jeffries, who last played with the Portland Trail Blazers, has retired from his 11-year NBA playing career in favor of a front office job in the league.

Yahoo Sports reported Monday that Jeffries accepted a position with the Denver Nuggets and general manager Tim Connelly. He played for Connelly from 2002 to 2006 with the Washington Wizards.

Jeffries originally went 11th in the 2002 NBA draft to Washington after he was the leading scorer on Indiana's 2002 Final Four team. The Hoosers, then under coach Mike Davis, finished with a 25-12 record and third place in the Big Ten Conference.

The Bloomington native left Indiana after two seasons and went on to play two stints with the New York Knicks, a pair of seasons with the Houston Rockets and as a reserve for Portland last season.

At 6 feet, 11 inches, Jeffries spent most of his time at the forward and center positions, but he featured enough versatility to play shooting guard in spots for the Wizards. Jeffries averaged 4.8 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.

He's 31 years old and will likely begin his post-playing career as a scout, Yahoo reports. Assistant general manager Arturas Karnishovas and director of basketball operations Ben Tenze are also new to the Nuggets this year.